Montrose runway open after repair work from tunnel bore

On May 24, a city-hired contractor used a hydrofracturing drilling technique to bore a 1,200-foot tunnel 15 feet under the runway for the installation of a 36-inch-sewer line deemed critical to city growth.

The process created an 8-inch bulge in the middle of an intersection between runway 17-35 and airport taxiway “A.”

According to a Montrose County news release, Hayward Baker Inc., a subcontractor for the city, stabilized the sewer bore by drilling 42 holes into the surface of the runway and taxiway over 343 lineal feet of the bore, and it pumped 60 cubic yards of grout into the bore.

The work was completed during night hours Oct. 17–22. Aircraft used runway 13-31 during the night closures of runway 17-35. Runway 17-35 is now open and operational.

“Safety at the airport is our primary concern. I’d like to thank the city and everyone involved in working together to reach a positive, safe resolution to this unexpected problem,” Arnold said.

Montrose City Manager Bill Bell said Wednesday the city’s cost to repair and stabilize the area was approximately $38,018.